iPhone not making calls to UK when abroad

[TriciaTailored]

I'm not able to make calls while abroad even though I have contract that allows this. I'm in the US, but calls back to the UK do not work. I get 'calling' and then 'dial assist'. Then fail! I was able to make a call from here about a week ago. I can't even call EE to get help. Any suggestions? I have turned my phone on/off and have tried choosing different networks. I have 4 bars.

[bristolian]

Do local calls within the US, connect? Are you able to send text messages?

[XRaySpeX]

@TriciaTailored : Are you on contract or PAYG? Had you used that SIM for making calls or texts in UK before you left to go abroad?

If you are on contract, did you activate roaming on your EE a/c before you left UK by texting ROAMING to 150? Having a roaming billing add-on doesn't of itself activate roaming on your a/c. Having roaming activated on your EE a/c, not just on your device, is crucial to using your contract SIM abroad.

Often just rebooting the phone is the simple remedy. Also try selecting a network manually rather than auto.

Otherwise you need to call CS to get your roaming activated. Try calling CS on the Freephone no. in my sig. on Skype over WiFi. It should be free.

[bristolian]

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@TriciaTailored wrote:

I was able to make a call from here about a week ago.

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I am taking this comment to mean that a network connection was certainly available "about a week ago", thus roaming was enabled.

[TriciaTailored]

Yes. Roaming is on. I have a contract that allows me to make international calls when in Europe and the USA, etc. as if I'm in the UK. I was just in Spain and it was fine. I don't need to text aboard. And I make a call from the US to the UK last Friday when in the US.

I have tried turning my phone on/off. I can't even call the costumer services number at 7953966250 or the 150 number. 

[TriciaTailored]

My plan is called: Business All Rounder SIM 10GB which means I have free roaming when abroad (in many countries). 

I have tried turning my phone on/off and changing the network.

I can't even call the costumer services number at 7953966250 or the 150 number. 

Can I call EE CS via Whatsapp?

[TriciaTailored]

No. Calls in the US don't work either. 

[Schockwave]

@TriciaTailored , do you have signal showing? As @XRaySpeX  has written, did you enable roaming before going abroad on your account?

If that is the case, you would need to ring customer service using something like Skype using the free number @XRaySpeX has given you.

In settings on your phone, is roaming showing as enabled?

[TriciaTailored]

Thanks all, 

@bristolian @XRaySpeX 

I have done all the things that you have suggested. In the end, I had to drive about 3 miles from where I am to make the phone call, although the quality was extremely poor.

It seems odd that I would have to leave where I am, considering I'm getting four bars from T-Mobile, which is a major US network. Also, other people I am staying with can make and receive calls using the cellular network. I am not in a rural area.

Thank you!

[bristolian]

The clue may be in your statement "the quality was extremely poor".

I suspect this was a VoLTE issue, perhaps TAC-specific where you were. Your call may have subsequently been carried over 2G, with a poorer voice codec.